Report recommends abolishing commission and assigning its responsibilities to nonprofit organization

JACKSON, Miss. – A performance audit released today by State Auditor Shad White found the Mississippi Blues Commission could not upon request provide proper documentation for millions of dollars of expenditures.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested former Wayne County Justice Court Clerk Christy James after she was indicted for embezzlement by a grand jury assembled by District Attorney for the 10^th District Kassie Coleman. A demand letter worth $51,531.80 was delivered to James at the time of her arrest. The demand amount includes investigative costs and all accrued interest.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested former City of Philadelphia Court Clerk Karen Refre and former City Clerk of Okolona Rebecca Moore after both were indicted for embezzlement in separate cases. A demand letter worth $25,746.59 was issued to Refre at the time of her surrender, and a demand worth $17,295.57 was delivered to Moore before she was transported to prison. Each demand amount includes investigative costs and accrued interest.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today Auditor Shad White announced his office uncovered alarming business practices at the Hinds County School District during a routine audit. Auditors found poor controls over the district credit cards and bank accounts which had not been reconciled in nearly a year. Additionally, spending records were destroyed before they were reviewed, and the district failed to adhere to some purchasing laws. Most concerning is a finding showing an assistant superintendent is responsible for more than $50,000 in improper expenditures.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced his office returned over $160,000 to Mississippi taxpayers last month after previous investigations by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor determined public funds were stolen or misused. Significant amounts were recovered from demands to William “Bill” Walker and George Nangah.
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JACKSON, Miss. – State Auditor Shad White today announced the release of an annual report listing the instances of misappropriation, misspending, or theft of public funds over the last fiscal year. The Audit Exceptions Report for Fiscal Year 2019 shows the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor issued 64 formal demands – 24 more than the previous year – and identified over $4.6 million to be returned to taxpayers.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Several Mississippi state agencies failed to meet legal requirements to spend public money and do not have adequate safeguards to prevent fraud according to a report released today by State Auditor Shad White.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Harrison County Assistant Tax Collector Denise Gill after she was indicted on four counts of submitting false statements to defraud the government by a grand jury assembled by District Attorney for the Mississippi 2nd District Joel Smith. A demand letter worth $19,821.50 was delivered to Gill at the time of her arrest. Interest and investigative costs were included in the total demand amount.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested a nurse previously employed by the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board at the State Veterans Home at Collins. Brittany Ransom was arrested after she was indicted for embezzlement and making false representations to defraud government by a grand jury assembled by District Attorney for the 15^th District Matthew Sullivan. Ransom was delivered a demand letter worth $15,505.47 at the time of her arrest. Accrued interest and investigative costs are included in the demand amount.
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JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Shellie Dickens (aka Shellie Martin), former administrative assistant for the Stone County Utility Authority, after she was indicted for embezzlement by a grand jury assembled by District Attorney for the Mississippi 2^nd District Joel Smith. At the time of her arrest, Dickens was issued a $13,492.12 demand letter which accounts for investigative costs and interest.
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